Military

Further Reading

Taliban Attacks Western Afghan Courthouse, At Least 50 Dead

April 03, 2013

by RFE/RL

Afghan officials say at least 53 people have been killed and dozens more injured during an attack by the Taliban in western Afghanistan.

Authorities in Farah Province say a seven-hour gunbattle with security forces erupted on April 3 after a group of suicide attackers detonated a bomb outside a provincial court in Farah city, near the Iranian border.

Interior Ministry deputy spokesman Najib Danish told the AFP news agency that 34 civilians, six soldiers, and four policemen were killed, while some 91 people, mostly civilians, were injured.

He said that nine of the Taliban attackers were killed as well.

Provincial government spokesman Abdul Raham Zawandon told RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan that the attack took place while 13 Taliban prisoners were in court, but that none of the inmates escaped.

A bank and the governor's office were reportedly damaged and Afghan troops were looking for bodies and checking if militants were hiding inside the buildings.

A Taliban spokesman said the militant group was responsible for the attack.

With reporting by AFP, RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan, AP, and Reuters